Inweekly July 14 2022 Issue

SUMMER PLANS Reoccurring Events Worth Getting into a Routine For Independent News | July 14, 2022 | Volume 23 | Number 28

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winners & losers

outtakes

4

5

news 8, 9

I don't want to rush the magic.

buzz 10

best of the coast ballot 14, 15

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Bethany Stewart

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer

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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2022 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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winners & losers

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The Front Door To Entrepreneurship Running a small business is one of the most challenging (and stressful) things you’ll ever do. But it can also be very rewarding if you manage your finances correctly!

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Dr. David Bellar / Courtesy Photo

Jimmy Patronis / Courtesy Photo

winners

losers

DAVID BELLAR The University of West Florida

Usha Kundu, MD College of Health welcomes Bellar as the college's new dean. He has dedicated his career to being an educator and leader in healthfocused higher education, with expertise in exercise science, human performance and sports nutrition research. He has been awarded three U.S. patents in these fields. Bellar came to UWF from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he was a professor and chair in the Department of Applied Physiology, Health and Clinical Sciences. He is a fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the American College of Sports Medicine and a research fellow of the Society of Health and Physical Educators. He has held leadership positions within the American Kinesiology Association, USA Track and Field, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

CARYL A. GREENE The League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates (LSCU & Affiliates) presented the Members First Credit Union of FL CEO with the Professional of the Year Award for Florida at its annual LSCU Awards & Expo in Orlando. The Credit Union Professional of the Year award recognizes credit union professionals for their impactful contributions to advancing the credit union movement in their state and the nation. LSCU & Affiliates CEO Patrick La Pine praised Greene and her fellow honorees as exemplary leaders in the credit union industry.

Visit our collaborative co-working space in Downtown Pensacola!

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The Spring Team Rachael Gillette, President, SCI | rgillette@studeri.org Rodney Jackson, Director of Business Engagement | rjackson@studeri.org Gracie Price, Entrepreneurial Manager | gprice@studeri.org Arjuna Coles, Operations Assistant | acoles@studeri.org

COUNCIL ON AGING OF WEST FLORIDA

The nonprofit has been awarded an AARP Community Challenge grant for $50,000 to fund a tiny home development project. The project was one of 260 awards out of 3,200 applications for quick action livability projects that align with community age-friendly efforts. This collaborative project will develop two 128-square-foot tiny home units. One will be rented to a Council on Aging client for no more than 30% of the senior's annual income. The second will serve as a demonstration home that can be toured by community leaders and residents interested in pioneering affordable housing options.

JIMMY PATRONIS Florida's chief financial officer booted University of Miami Health System pediatrician Dr. Lisa Gwynn off the state's Florida Healthy Kids Board. Why? Because Dr. Gwynn advocated for Florida children under 5 to get the COVID vaccine, a position that put her at odds with Gov. Ron DeSantis, Patronis and Florida Department of Health officials who don't support the FDA-approved vaccine. In an email, Patronis said she had made "some very political statements that do not reflect the CFO's point of view, even going so far as to as to say that the state is 'obstruct(ing)' access to vaccines. The CFO does not share your opinion and believes the state has gone to great lengths to protect lives in the face of the Coronavirus."Gwynn told The Miami Herald, "I'm not a politician; I'm a pediatrician. And there's no other reason for me to do what I do other than to improve the health of children in our state."

ESCAMBIA'S MENTAL HEALTH At the Mental Health Task Force's June meeting, it was revealed that Escambia has had 3,120 Baker Acts this year. Florida's Baker Act enables someone to request emergency mental health services for a person who can't or won't request help for themselves. The county also leads the state in drug overdoses. Jan. 1-June 27, Escambia County EMS has dealt with 1,024 overdoses, averaging 5.6 daily. County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh told Inweekly, "Our medical examiner's been screaming about this for a long time. It's geometric, 37,000 nationwide opioid overdoses in 2019, 57,000 in 2020. In 2021, it jumped geometrically to over 100,000. It's a very stark situation that we're dealing with."

BORIS JOHNSON The Conservative Party

leader last week announced his resignation as British Prime Minister after he was abandoned by ministers and party lawmakers who said he was no longer fit to govern. At least 59 members of Johnson's ministers had resigned at the time of his remarks on Thursday, July 7.

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

TEACHERS AREN'T THE ENEMY With a new academic school year starting next month, Florida's teacher shortage is worsening. By the end of 2022, state officials estimate Florida could have more than 10,000 teaching vacancies. But how can this be?

All the education news from Tallahassee is so positive. Gov. Ron DeSantis has increased teacher pay for three consecutive years. The 2022-23 budget has $800 million to raise minimum teacher pay and increase veteran teacher salaries in Florida. The state handed out $1,000 bonus checks to approximately 179,000 teachers and principals.

At a March press conference in Wellington, Fla., Gov. DeSantis proudly proclaimed, "We have invested more than $2 billion in teacher pay, and with rising inflation, this could not come at a better time. This will help Florida to recruit and retain great teachers."

"Governor DeSantis is unquestionably the most pro-teacher governor in the nation. He has challenged us to elevate and celebrate the teaching profession by listening to the needs of teachers," said then-Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. "I'm excited for Florida's teachers and am grateful for Governor DeSantis' vision and his relentless pursuit to improve the teaching profession."

But Florida teachers are leaving their jobs in droves. The money didn't tempt them to stay and hasn't attracted teachers to relocate to the Sunshine State, maybe because the average teacher compensation overall in Florida is $51,167, significantly less than the $65,293 national average.

Another reason is that DeSantis' social agenda has placed a target on teachers' backs and seeks to regulate what they can read, say and teach. Free thought is vanishing from our schools.

Math textbooks have been purged of anything seen as "woke." School libraries may soon disappear to avoid heated debates over which books should be banned.

History and civics lessons have been whitewashed and purged of diversity and multi-cultural references. School districts have canceled teacher workshops on the civil rights movement out of fear they might upset the governor.

Thank goodness, Juneteenth doesn't happen during the school year.

Last year, DeSantis and Corcoran rolled out their Civic Literacy Excellence Initiative to give teachers who completed their civics training course a $3,000 stipend and his Florida Civics Seal of Excellence. That hasn't been enough to keep teachers.

The governor's "Don't Say Gay" law states, "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards." Such instruction wasn't a part of any kindergarten-grade 3 curriculum in the state, but some teachers in the LGBTQ+ community fear that they eventually may be banned from teaching in any Florida public school.

Far-fetched? Not really. DeSantis' press secretary, Christina Pushaw, remarked on Twitter that the "Don't Say Gay" bill would be more accurately described as an "Anti-Grooming Bill." She voiced an attitude among the bill's proponents that they wanted to prevent children from being "groomed"—a term used to describe how sex offenders initiate contact with their victims.

I talked with teachers who have shared that these laws have created a hostile classroom work environment. Dare to teach about the struggles of Jackie Robinson becoming the first Black player in Major League Baseball or counsel a child who was being bullied because his parents were the same sex, and a parent might have you reprimanded or terminated.

Teachers should be allowed to teach without interference from politicians. Parents definitely have a role in education, but one group doesn't have the right to dominate a public school's instruction. Educators need to make those decisions. Teachers should be encouraged to be innovative and creative.

Gov. DeSantis, your indoctrination program is forcing teachers out of a profession they love.

Teachers aren't the enemy. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Teachers should be allowed to teach without interference from politicians.

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Douglas A. Bates

Jeremy C. Branning

Shareholder & Commercial Litigation Department Chair; Chair, Business Law Section of The Florida Bar

Shareholder & Trial Lawyer; First Circuit Rep., The Florida Bar Board of Governors

Photo by Phil Salzman, Salz Studio

Leadership Profiles

Q&As with the New Chair of The Florida Bar Business Law Section and Third-Time First Circuit Representative of The Florida Bar Board of Governors

Clark Partington Attorneys at Law is exceedingly proud of the work and service of two of its distinguished Pensacola shareholders, Douglas A. Bates and Jeremy C. Branning, who currently serve in statewide leadership roles with The Florida Bar. Most recently, on July 1, 2022, Doug Bates officially began his one-year term as Chair of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar, following his installment at last month’s annual Florida Bar Convention in Orlando.

Likewise, in 2018, Jeremy Branning was elected to serve as the First Circuit’s Representative on The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors for a two-year term, and has continued in that role unopposed through his third two-year term ending in 2024.

This week, we invited Doug and Jeremy to sit down with us for a couple of Q&A interviews to learn more about the nature and scope of their leadership roles with The Florida Bar. Find their insightful responses on the following page.

(850) 434-9200 | clarkpartington.com 66

Pensacola | Destin | Tallahassee | Santa Rosa Beach Ad presented by Clark Partington inweekly.net

Douglas A. Bates, Shareholder &

Firm Commercial Litigation Dept. Chair

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida Practice Areas: Business and Real Estate Litigation; Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights What year did you start at Clark Partington?

I began practicing law in 2004, and started with Clark Partington in 2013.

Leadership Role with The Florida Bar? Chair, Business Law Section The Business Law Section of The Florida Bar is an organization within The Florida Bar for members interested in corporations, banking, business, bankruptcy, computer and cyber law, anti-trust and franchise law, litigation and related areas of law. The Business Law Section (“BLS”) of The Florida Bar also provides a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas leading to the improvement of the laws in the State of Florida.

Is the BLS Chair elected or appointed?

Appointed. Members of the Business Law Section advance through the leadership process by first becoming members of the Section’s Executive Council. Prior

Jeremy C. Branning, Shareholder & Trial Lawyer

Hometown: Born in Panama City, Florida; Moved to Gulf Breeze in 1980 Practice Areas: Trial Lawyer; General Litigation; Employment, Contract, and Restrictive Covenant Litigation for Professional Service Providers; Representation of Healthcare Providers and Professional Service Providers; Product Litigation; Construction Litigation What year did you start at Clark Partington?

2005.

What led you to the firm?

The firm’s reputation and to work with the firm’s first class trial lawyers including Don Partington, Dennis Larry, Jason Peterson, Bruce Partington, and others.

Leadership Role with The Florida Bar? First Circuit Rep., Board of Governors The 52-member Board of Governors (“BOG”) is comprised of representatives from each of Florida’s twenty Judicial Circuits with the number of representatives from each circuit determined by the number of attorneys in that circuit. The Board of Governors is the exclusive authority to

(850) 434-9200 | clarkpartington.com Ad

by Clark Partington Julypresented 14, 2022

to becoming chair, a member will typically serve as the leader of various Committees within the Section, and will then serve single year terms as Secretary, Treasurer, and Chair-Elect, all prior to becoming Chair.

What does it mean to be Chair of The Florida Bar Business Law Section?

Being Chair of the Business Law Section means serving the needs of the Section’s members, first and foremost. By serving as the chair of several Committees, and then serving as an officer in the role of Secretary, Treasurer, and Chair-Elect, I feel adequately prepared to serve the needs of the Section while helping advance the Section’s mission.

Doug, we heard that there is a special family connection for you as incoming BLS Chair would you tell us more about that?

My father, Philip Bates, served as Chair of the Business Law Section when I was in high school. As far as I know, my dad and I are the first father-son group to serve in this capacity.

Are there any lessons from your dad that you carry into your everyday life, legal practice and leadership roles?

Those who know my father know that he is a hard-working person of integrity. Each formulate and adopt matters of policy concerning the activities of the Bar, subject to limitations imposed by the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Is a BOG Representative elected or appointed?

Elected. I was elected by fellow attorneys who practice in Florida’s First Judicial Circuit, which includes Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County, and Walton County.

In what capacity have you served on the BOG? I have had the privilege of serving in leadership roles on several key Board committees and on the Bar’s Covid-19 Task Force.

I just completed a term as Chair of the Board’s Budget Committee, Vice Chair of the Audit Committee, and as a member of the Board’s Executive Committee. I have served as the Board Liaison to several committees including the Advertising Committee, which considers advertising proposals from attorneys throughout Florida. I am the Designated Reviewer for the First Circuit’s two grievance committees and two unlicensed practice of law committees, and was recently appointed to serve as Chair of the current Judicial Nominating Screening Committee. I am also an active member of the Executive Council of the Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar.

day, I commit to live out the virtues of hard work and integrity as I practice law, serve clients, and serve the community.

Hard work and integrity are cornerstones of trust, and unfailing trust is at the core of the attorney-client relationship. Being a trusted advisor to a client is the highest level of professional service an attorney can provide.

What do you hope to accomplish during your term as Chair?

During my time as Chair, the Section will continue to advance legislative positions in Tallahassee that are beneficial to business in Florida, and that help to ensure that Florida continues to be a great state in which to do business. We will continue to advance financial literacy goals throughout Florida, and will continue our efforts to develop and mentor young lawyers who have a passion for the practice of law, and a desire to serve their clients and communities with integrity.

What inspires you as a leader and lawyer?

First and foremost, my wife Lisa, and our four amazing children, inspire me to work hard every day. Northwest Florida is a magnificent place, and our family is blessed to call this place home. Working hard, practicing law, and raising my family in the same town where I was born and raised gives me a great sense of hometown pride.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while serving in your first term?

I quickly discovered in my first term that the Board’s work involves an incredibly large scope of matters affecting everything from operations of The Florida Bar, implementing measures taken by the Florida Supreme Court, The Florida Bar’s financial operations, lawyer discipline, and work to identify and address the concerns and challenges that members of the Florida Bar face, including everything from mentorship for young lawyers, advertising regulations, technology advancements, and the ever-changing landscape of the legal practice, so that attorneys are best situated to provide clients with excellent service. The principles underlying the Board’s work are supporting the rule of law and promoting the judiciary.

What do you hope to accomplish in your third term?

The first term involved a big learning curve to understand the scope and breadth of The Florida Bar and its role in the daily lives of attorneys across the State of Florida. My focus this term is to support the excellent work, which often goes unnoticed, that The Florida Bar does to support lawyers across the state. Too often, The Florida Bar is perceived as solely the disciplinary component of this profession;

Living, working, and serving amazing clients in Pensacola, alongside a great group of team members at Clark Partington, is a wonderful privilege.

Growing up playing baseball I had the opportunity to observe the leadership skills of many wonderful coaches along the way. From little league through college baseball, my coaches exhibited the values of hard work and integrity, as well as optimism and perseverance. Baseball is a humbling game, and baseball players are a tough group to lead. My coaches led us through the good times, and the tough times, with confidence and positive energy. In much the same way, as a lawyer, I have been blessed to grow up learning the law from many great senior partners and law firm leaders across the State of Florida, and especially at Clark Partington.

Like baseball, the practice of law can be humbling at times. As I work to become a leader that would make my coaches and senior partners proud, I am inspired by the great leaders who invested their time and energy in me along the way.

My mother always says to “look at the bright side,” and “never lose your sense of adventure.” Being a leader today is most certainly an adventure, but it is an adventure made much easier if approached each day with my mother’s inspirational sense of optimism. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead, and remain genuinely optimistic about what the future holds. however, The Bar’s work providing support and benefits to the many professionals across this state is simply outstanding. It includes everything from Continuing Legal Education courses to providing resources for incorporating and adapting to rapidly evolving technology to providing resources for mental health.

What inspires you as a leader and lawyer?

My family has always been a tremendous inspiration in my life. The example set by my father working his entire career for Gulf Power Company and making his way from very humble beginnings is a major influence in my life. My mother’s work ethic and high expectations played an equal role. I could not be more proud of my older brother, Robert Branning, who is a Circuit Court Judge in Lee County, and is responsible for my decision to go to law school. My wife, Nancy, my high school sweetheart, and our three daughters (Maddy, Gabby, and Addy) are huge influences in my life. Leadership was not necessarily a natural development for me. I have been incredibly fortunate to have worked with and learned a great deal from mentors during my career, and from an outstanding leadership group of the Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Association.

Pensacola | Destin | Tallahassee | Santa Rosa Beach 7

DESTROYING DISINFORMATION

By Tom St. Myer Convinced by false claims on social media from the alt-right that connected high-ranking Democratic Party officials and U.S. restaurants to an alleged human trafficking and child sex ring, a man from North Carolina traveled to a Washington, D.C., pizzeria to investigate in December 2016. The intruder fired three shots that struck the walls, door and a desk in the pizzeria. He eventually surrendered to officers without further incident or any injuries, but his actions showcased the influence of disinformation through social media.

U.S. Navy veteran and former congressional candidate Phil Ehr is attempting to disrupt, degrade and destroy these types of disinformation ecosystems as founder and CEO of the national George Washington Initiative, a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization that serves as an information civil defense force. The initiative's mission is to defend truth and democracy and empower members to fight honorably while correcting misinformation and destroying disinformation.

"We are building technology to be able to illuminate for ourselves and our volunteers what the situation is so that we can identify and then select targets, if you will, for the application of countermeasures," Ehr said. "There's a lot of things you can do to obscure that vision. You can jam it. You can insert false targets. You can spoof, pretending to be someone you're not—all for the purpose of creating chaos or creating a false impression."

He continued, "And that's what we are going to do to apply those same tactics in the domestic political arena, where government cannot protect us from the disinformation in that way because perpetrators, propagators of falsehoods, claim free speech."

Ehr served 26 years in the Navy and rose from seaman to commanding officer. He flew reconnaissance missions during the Cold War and combat support during Desert Storm. His tenure in the Navy included a stop in Pensacola, where he earned his Wings of Gold from Aviation Officer Candidate School. Ehr returned to Pensacola and

ran on the Democratic ticket, unsuccessfully challenging U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz for the 1st Congressional District seat in 2020.

"You can think of lots of other places where false information has actually led to violence. And I would say the Jan. 6 riot is the main thing." Phil Ehr The Navy veteran never ventured out of the starting gate as a politician, but he found his second calling with the Initiative. Ehr named the initiative after George Washington to acknowledge his warning against factionalism in his farewell address. In his letter to "Friends and Citizens," Washington warned that the forces of geographical sectionalism, political factionalism and interference by foreign powers in domestic affairs threatened the country's stability.

Ehr oversees efforts to raise millions of dollars, hire private operatives and secure commitments from thousands of volunteers to "save democracy in small chunks."

"The longest road is traveled with the first steps," he said. "And so, we are America's first information civil defense force, and we're starting small. You can start small and have a huge effect.

The Russians took 80 people and $1.2 million, I think, to help elect Donald Trump in 2016. Well, we need $5 million and a couple thousand or a few thousand volunteers and operatives, paid operatives, and we will be able to defend democracy in a very real and substantial way."

Founded by Ehr in 2020, the initiative launched four years after the Pizzagate conspiracy theory sent shockwaves worldwide. Alt-right members and extremely conservative journalists used social media platforms, including Twitter and Reddit, to spread the conspiracy theory that coded messages about human trafficking existed in emails published from John Podesta, former chair of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The conspiracy theory found an audience at the expense of the Com-

et Ping Pong pizzeria owner and staff. Conspiracy theorists threatened to kill the employees. The man from North Carolina who fired the rifle, 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch, drove to the pizzeria convinced he was about to rescue children held captive in a nonexistent basement.

"This is all supposed to be happening in a basement," Ehr said. "Well, there is no basement.

It's a regular family pizza parlor. Yet, he believed it to the extent he was taking action and violent action. And fortunately, he did surrender to the police before there were any deaths or injuries. But that doesn't always happen. You can think of lots of other places where false information has actually led to violence. And I would say the Jan. 6 riot is the main thing."

The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol continues to dominate the news cycle as committee hearings reveal what unfolded that fateful day in 2021. Protestors organized the attack through social media platforms, including Gab and Parler, both of whom target far-right audiences. The social media platforms included comments on what streets to take to avoid the police and which tools to bring to pry open doors.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v.

Wade is another topic dominating the headlines.

The initiative voiced its disapproval of the ruling on its Facebook page and closely monitors disinformation from antiabortionist organizations.

Last week, posts on its Facebook page included links to an article by Snopes on eight social media rumors that surfaced after Roe v.

Wade was overturned and criticized Crisis Pregnancy Centers for intentionally spreading abortion disinformation to promote an antiabortion agenda. The post included, "Most CPCs are not legally licensed medical clinics, do not offer abortions, and intend to coerce people out of accessing abortion."

Debunking the "Great Replacement" theory is another focus of the initiative. In September, Fox News conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson promoted the theory in a segment titled, "Northing About What's Happening is an Accident." Carlson said the U.S border policy under President Joe Biden is designed to change the ra-

cial mix of the country. He cited Haitian families being allowed to stay in the U.S. and seek asylum in immigration court as an example.

The theory states that easing immigration restrictions is a plot to replace white people's political power and culture. Anti-immigrant groups and white supremacists embrace the theory and its iterations.

Similar to the overruling of Roe v. Wade, the George Washington Initiative used its Facebook page to attack the credibility of the Great Replacement theory and connected its rhetoric to the mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket in May. An 18-year-old white male, Payton S. Gendron, killed 10 Black people and injured three others. Gendron voiced support for the Great Replacement theory or "white genocide."

The initiative stated on its Facebook page, "The racist 'Great Replacement' theory claims that the country's changing demographics are a ploy by liberals to replace white conservative voters. That same backward and deplorable conspiracy inspired the mass shooting in Buffalo.

Our mission is to prevent these ideas from ever spreading to this scale."

"We are talking about deliberate falsehoods in the case of disinformation and urban myths or rural myths that make it into people's minds and are hard to get rid of." Ehr Ehr emphasized that the initiative is not in the business of attacking partisan speech or challenging their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech. He focuses on contesting conspiracy theories that mislead the public about human rights.

"We are talking about deliberate falsehoods in the case of disinformation and urban myths or rural myths that make it into people's minds and are hard to get rid of," Ehr said. "They're just flat wrong. So we are after those patently false things used to a political effect. It's kind of like terrorism in the political arena." {in}

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MORE MANATEES MOVE INTO REGION

Photo Courtesy of DISL-MSN / Contributor John Starrett

By Jeremy Morrison In recent years, manatees have been increasingly seen in regional waters. The reasons for the appearance of the aquatic mammal not traditionally found in Northwest Florida remain unclear, though scientists suspect environmental drivers.

"We are seeing additional sightings around the area—for what reason, I don't know," said Matt Posner, director of the nonprofit Pensacola & Perdido Bay Estuary Program (PPBEP).

A couple of weeks ago, on a late-June Sunday, three adults and one calf were encountered, meandering in basins of the Blackwater River near Milton in Santa Rosa County. This seemed strange to Posner, who told Inweekly, "I wouldn't have thought they'd migrate up that far."

The presence of manatees also surprised Pamela Mitchell, an environmental advocate and representative of the local group Save Blackwater River State Forest. She was familiar with the various protected species that call the river system home. She said, "I knew the sturgeon were here, the red-cockaded woodpecker; there's a salamander."

But the manatees appeared to be drifting from a place of whispered myths and into photo-verified reality. Mitchell shared, "Now, they're here; kids are paddle boarding with them."

But why? Why are the manatees, traditionally found in waters located in the central and southern parts of Florida, in the Panhandle's waterways? And should we expect more to increasingly migrate to the area.

July 14, 2022

"What's going on here?" asked Elizabeth Hieb, who manages the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Manatee Sighting Network. "Is there really something going on with the manatees, or are people just seeing them more?"

Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Manatee Sighting Network was established in 2007 in response to an uptick in regional manatee encounters and has been tracking reports of manatees in the Northern Gulf of Mexico region for 16 years. The agency, located off Alabama's southern shore, focuses on the northern Gulf region but receives reports of manatee sightings from locations as far-flung as Texas, North Carolina and Puerto Rico.

Hieb, who has worked with the network since 2012, explained the Dauphin Island researchers rely on public reports of manatee sightings to compile an increasingly fuller portrait of the mammal's presence in the area. She added, "Citizen science is a great tool."

When the regional manatee sighting network first launched, it was unknown what the data would reveal. The first year, Hieb said, a dramatic increase in sightings was expected simply because there was now a central space for such reports to be compiled. The researchers expected the sightings to soon "plateau a little bit" and remain about the same year to year. This, however, did not happen.

"We've actually just seen the number of sightings continue to increase," Hieb said.

So far, Dauphin Island's Manatee Sighting Network has received more than 4,000 reports of manatee sighting in regional waterways, with numbers increasing annually. But, again, why?

"We think there are a couple of different fac-

tors that have contributed to this," Hieb said.

In short, the two suspected factors amount to food and habitat. Manatees prefer warmer waters, typically water above 68 degrees.

Such temperate waters can be found from natural sources, such as springs, or artificial sources like power plant outflows.

When it comes to diet, the mammals are herbivores and feed on a variety of aquatic vegetation.

In recent years, manatees in Florida have struggled to find adequate food sources due to pollution from agricultural and urban runoff and septic tanks that have diminished winter feeding areas along the state's east coast. As a result, the state's population is experiencing high mortality events due to starvation, with more than a thousand dying off last year.

"That gives them motivation to go out a little further in search of resources," Hieb said.

"The conditions that we have here are really just right to have the manatees here. When they get to a good place with fresh water and food, they will stop and stay a while." Elizabeth Hieb At the same time, the researcher noted, the state's overall manatee count has risen, as have water temperatures in more northern waterways. She said, "The population in Florida has just boomed, like tripled."

Such environmental factors, Hieb said, have likely led manatees to migrate into the area where, it turns out, conditions—both water temperatures and food sources—are quite nice.

"The conditions that we have here are really just right to have the manatees here," she said, adding that the animals tend to hang around once they've found an ideal space and that they could come to identify the region as a regular part of the habitat range. "When they get to a good place with fresh water and food, they will stop and stay a while."

With the increase in regional manatee sightings comes additional responsibility on the part of local residents, especially boaters, as collisions with motorized vessels account for a substantial number of manatee deaths each year.

"These are protected animals, so we always want people to give them their space," Hieb said.

In an effort to make the public aware of the increased presence of these docile, slow-moving marine mammals, the PPBEP is partnering with other environmental groups, including Dauphin Island's Manatee Sighting Network, as well as Panhandle Manatee, to get the word out.

"We are interested in educating and engaging boaters," explained Posner.

In that effort to educate and engage, PPBEP is sending volunteers out to area boat ramps to inform boaters about the need to watch out for the manatees, as well as letting them know where to report sightings.

As it turns out, engaging the public on the topic of manatees is going swimmingly. People love these big, dopey cows of the sea, though, technically, manatees are more closely related to elephants than cows. And while the term "sea cow" has become a catch-all reference, the term originally referred to a similar species of Sirenia, the Steller's sea cow, which went extinct in the late 18th century.

"People like seeing manatees; they're known as charismatic megafauna," Posner said. "It's definitely not a hard thing to sell."

While the sighting in June of the four manatees in the Blackwater River surprised a lot of folks, it makes sense to Hieb. She expects sightings in inland waterways around the region to increase.

"They actually spend a lot more time in the river system instead of the open water," the Dauphin Island researcher said.

In her effort to advocate for the environmental concerns associated with the area around Blackwater River, such as the city of Milton's plans for a new wastewater facility near the river, Mitchell has urged local officials to consider the at-risk species that call the local ecosystem home, such as the threatened Gulf sturgeon, which use the river as a spawning ground.

When photos emerged online of the four manatees swimming in Blackwater River, Mitchell was pleasantly surprised. The sightings amounted to a cuddly, endangered teddy bear joining the movement.

"Manatees are warm and fuzzy; they're like Dumbo or something," the local environmentalist noted. "We've got the sturgeon, and they're more endangered than the manatees, but they're not warm and fuzzy."

•To learn more about public outreach efforts asso-

ciated with manatees, visit the Pensacola & Perdido Bay Estuary Program website at ppeb.org, or email panhandlemanatee.org@gmail.com.

•To report a manatee sighting in the area, contact the Dauphine Island Sea Lab's Manatee Sighting Network at manatee@disl.org or by phone at (866) 493-5803. Reports may be filed online at manatee.disl.org. {in} 9

UWF EXCELS AGAIN More than 72% of UWF

bachelor's graduates are employed or furthering their education one year after graduation, the best of any state university in Florida. UWF has ranked first in this performance metric for three consecutive years.

"I'm particularly happy with that because that's a quality measure," UWF President Martha Saunders told Inweekly. "It's not about efficiency, how fast you move them through. It's how well did they do (in academics) because people want them, and they're hiring them."

UWF also made a double-digit improvement in the graduation rate of first-time-in-college, four-year students, jumping 11 percentage points to 47.4%—the most significant increase in percentage points from the previous year in the Florida State University System.

Saunders said, "That is the hardest needle to move because it takes four years to move it and because you're measuring a cohort and how quickly they can get through school. So,that's important. It's expensive to stay in school an extra year."

She shared that the university works hard to keep their students in school and help them graduate on time. Saunders said, "There are always solutions. And one of the things we really encourage our students to do is before they drop out or think they're going to drop out, they need to talk to us. If money's a problem, we can usually help them. If they're struggling academically, we can help them."

For more information about UWF's ranking in the Board of Governors performance-based funding model, visit uwf.edu/bogmetrics.

CHILDERS' VERY BAD DAY After spending

the past year trying to convince the public that the county commissioners' 401(a) retirement plan was illegal, Escambia County Clerk Pam Childers suffered two legal defeats on July 5.

Okaloosa Circuit Court Judge William Stone dismissed her countersuit against commissioners Robert Bender, Steven Barry and Lumon May. She demanded that they repay the retirement contributions paid out under the county's 401(a) retirement plan. He also denied her motion to quash the commissioners' writ of mandamus to compel her to make payments to the plan, which the clerk halted in January.

Childers' lawsuit asked the court to rule that disbursements to the retirement plan are unlawful. Judge Stone dismissed her lawsuit because he said the mandamus case "will resolve the determinative issues in the present case."

Judge Stone wrote, "Both the mandamus action and the present case ultimately turn on whether the County's local retirement plan is unlawful as to elected officials."

He declared Childers' lawsuit a "duplicative declaratory action," in other words, an expensive waste of time that Childers will have the taxpayers pay for.

In denying Childers' motion to quash the writ of mandamus, Judge Stone wrote Childers' per010 1

sonal attacks on the commissioners and political disagreements were "not germane to resolving the legal issues presented in this case."

He ruled, "Having considered the Amended Complaint and the subsequent filings as true and in the light most favorable to the County, the Court finds that County has made a prima facie case for relief."

The county's lawsuit against the clerk may now proceed. Attorney Troy Rafferty represents the Escambia County Commissioners. Last week, he appeared on WCOA 1370AM/104.9FM to discuss with Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen Judge Stone's rulings.

"We're obviously very happy with the outcome," he said. "We feel like the judge made the absolute right decision. Really, what the clerk was trying to do is just improper, and so we're very happy with it and look forward to getting into the discovery phase of this."

Rafferty wants the public to stay engaged and follow the case, noting that over 100 people watched last month's hearing online.

"The more facts that actually come out, the more it's shown that this is nothing but a personal and political vendetta by the clerk," said Rafferty. "And the only thing that's she's accomplishing is wasting the taxpayer's money. I mean, she's hired two law firms. Two law firms paying them, I don't even know, thousands and thousands of dollars from the taxpayer."

The attorney looks forward to deposing Childers and her employees. He told Inweekly, "The clerk's office is the one that presented the options to these commissioners. All they did was get a form from her office and check a box, 'OK, I'll take this one.' That's all they did."

Rafferty continued, "And yet the daily newspaper wants to paint this as something that is just so false, it's just so wrong what they are trying to do. And I don't know what the motivation is behind it. I don't know why, but they refuse to actually look at the facts as I have laid them out in my pleadings, as I've laid them out in court.

And I'm going to lay them out in my cross-examination of the clerk in front of the court. I mean, this is just so wrong that she is wasting the taxpayers' money."

The News Journal's editorial board has repeatedly attacked the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm and Rafferty for presenting the county. The LPR partner has tried high-profile cases all over the country. Has he ever been attacked for representing a client by the daily newspaper in those cities?

"Never, not until the News Journal did it in my own hometown that I've been in for 30 years," Rafferty shared. "And now they want to attack me for representing a client for free and trying to do the right thing. But they've attacked everybody."

LET'S MAKE A DEAL In May, Administra-

tive Law Judge G.W. Chisenhall heard the State Commission on Ethics case against Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill. The attorneys for Underhill and the state last week

submitted their recommended orders for the judge to consider.

Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Miller, the advocate for the ethics commission, asked that Judge Chisenhall that Underhill be removed from office for violating several Florida Statutes.

Mark Herron, Underhill's attorney, recommended his client "be subject to a public censure and reprimand" for violating sections 112.31348(4) and 112.3148(8).

The attorneys disagreed on whether the state proved Underhill violated state laws by releasing "shade meeting" transcripts; soliciting a gift from a lobbyist or the principal of a lobbyist; failing to file a Form 9 "Quarterly Gift Disclosure" disclosing a gift of legal services having a value in excess of $100 from the Clark Partington law firm, and failing to file a Form 9 "Quarterly Gift Disclosure" disclosing travel expenses and shipping costs having a value in excess of $100 from the Pensacola Sports Authority.

Herron agreed that the commissioner violated Section 112.3148(4) by accepting a gift having a value in excess of $100 from the principal of a lobbyist, and he failed to timely file Form 9 "Quarterly Gift Disclosures" and disclose a gift to his legal defense fund from Richard Andres.

He wrote that Underhill should be given a less severe penalty because the commissioner included the donation from Mr. Hemmer to his legal defense fund on his Form 9 disclosure for the quarter ending December 2019. Also, the evidence indicated that Underhill's failure to include the donation from Mr. Hemmer to his legal defense fund on his Form 9 disclosure resulted from an error in transposing the information from his records to the Form 9 attachment.

Herron's admission of guilt and request for censure and public reprimand were made with Underhill's consent. Judge Chisenhall has 30 days to render his final order.

LAKEVIEW MAKES LIST Lakeview Center has been named #7 in this year's "Top 100 WomenLed Businesses in Florida" list by The Commonwealth Institute and Kaufman Rossin. The list includes both nonprofit and for-profit organizations and factors in revenue, workplace diversity, innovation and customer benefits. The organizations' leaders must be among the highest-ranking executives in the Florida marketplace.

Allison Hill is the president and CEO of Lakeview Center, whose mission is "helping people throughout life's journey." The team serves others through some of their most vulnerable moments, providing behavioral health care, child welfare support and employment services for people with disabilities. In 2021, the team impacted almost 32,000 lives.

Hill joined the organization in January 1999 and became vice president and chief financial officer in February 2003. In August 2014, she was promoted to chief operating officer, and in 2016 became the third chief executive officer in Lakeview's history.

At Lakeview, she is responsible for the daily functions of a $270 million, 2,800-employee human services organization that impacts lives in multiple states and the District of Columbia.

Hill engages her team through regular, transparent communications by sending "selfie video" updates to all team members, as well as hosting regular "Ask Allison" forums to give all team members the opportunity to come directly to her with questions, concerns or ideas.

Hill is a strong proponent of diversity. Half of her executive team is comprised of women. Under her leadership, Lakeview Center has launched employee resource groups to bring together groups including veterans, remote workers and intergenerational employees.

2022 ELECTION INFO As the Aug. 23 primary election nears, here are some deadlines and events to make note of.

•Registration: The voter registration deadline for the Aug. 23 primary election is Monday, July 25. Citizens can register in person at the Supervisor of Elections on the second floor of 213 S.Palafox, by mail or online at escambiavotes.com. The same deadline holds for voters wanting to change parties for the primary election.

•Vote By Mail: All qualified voters are permitted to vote by mail using a vote-by-mail ballot under Florida law. A voter, or someone designated by the voter, may request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Supervisor of Elections in person, by mail, by email or by telephone. One request can cover all elections through the next General Election. For the information required to request a ballot and other laws regarding voting, visit escambiavotes.com.

The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13. All ballots must be received in the Supervisor of Elections' office no later than 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23.

•Political Forums: Bike Pensacola will host a Pensacola Mayoral Forum at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, at the West Florida Public Library, 239 N. Spring St. Candidates Jewel Cannada-Wynn, Sherri Myers, D.C. Reeves and Steve Sharp are all committed to attend.

Each candidate will provide general information about their candidacy. After that, all questions will focus on candidates' views about making Pensacola safer and more pleasant for walking and bicycling, including topics such as bike lanes, parking, urban redevelopment, sidewalks, traffic calming and more. For much more, visit Bike Pensacola on Facebook or call (850) 687-9968 or email bike@pensacolacan.org.

If any other groups are hosting political forums that are open to the public, please email the details to info@inweekly.net.

•Podcasts: Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen is interviewing all candidates on the primary ballot on weekday mornings from 7-8:30 a.m. on WCOA 1370AM/104.9FM. Podcasts are available at podomatic.com/podcasts/rick9662. {in} inweekly.net

HELP US MAKE PENSACOLA AMERICA’S FIRST EARLY LEARNING CITY! Parents, grandparents and caregivers of children ages 5 and under sign up for the Pensacola Basics and receive FREE weekly text messages that include science-based facts and helpful activities to boost your child’s early brain development and learning!

Visit Studeri.org/pensacolabasics or use the QR code below to enroll now.

Pensacola Contact Frency Moore at fmoore@studeri.org or 850.525.4386 The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

July 14, 2022

11

AYCE: FAT

GIVEAWAY

Tuesday

JULY 12-17

July 12 • 6:35 pm AYCE Buffet (90-min.) + Game Ticket for ONLY $27!

ONE PRICE

Chattanooga Lookouts

July 13 • 6:35 pm All tickets include a hot dog, chips, & soda FOR JUST $18!

MARDI GRAS IN JULY Wednesday Night Fireworks!

Enjoy Drink Specials Including $2 Drafts & $4 Domestic Cans 212 1 BW0657_Homestand8_vs_Lookouts_IN-Half-Page.indd 1

Sue Straughn Bobblehead Night for the first 1,000 fans

Saturday

July 16 • 6:05 pm

Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Night

BEST Fireworks from covenant care

MULLET

July 14 • 6:35 pm

July 15 • 6:35 pm FIREWORKS

Wednesday Thursday

Friday

DOUBLE-A AFFILIATES

NEXT HOMESTAND: JULY 26-31 VS. MISSISSIPPI BRAVES TUNE IN TO CATCH THE GAMES ON

GAME TIMES

|

|

Mon.-Fri. 6:35 pm Sat. 6:05 pm Sun. 4:05 pm All pre-game activities start 45 minutes prior to game time.

MILITARY FAMILY

Sunday

July 17 • 4:05 pm Team Photo Giveaway Kids Run the Bases & Family Toss

inweekly.net

7/6/22 1:45 PM

SUMMER PLANS Sometimes the things that make summer summer—like high temperatures and endless days—are also the things that make it hard to get through.

Luckily for us locals, Pensacola has a solid slate of regularly scheduled events worth getting excited about. So that’s why we’re encouraging you to get in a routine and make the most of what’s left of this season.

And we know the word "routine" doesn't exactly scream summer or fun, but we think it can, especially when the routine in question involves things like live music with a Gulf view. {in}

MUSICAL NIGHTS BEACH TUNES

Pensacola Beach's popular outdoor concert series Bands on the Beach is already in full swing this season, with a full roster of music every Tuesday evening all summer long and well into the fall, too.

Located at the Gulfside Pavilion, the series features regional artists performing weekly through the last Tuesday in October.

Bands on the Beach Remaining 2022 Schedule

Whether it's a date night or a family outing, these two live music series create the perfect opportunity for a relaxing summer routine.

Blue Wahoos games aren't exactly on a set weekly schedule, but the daily promotions are. So all you have to do to make a summer routine for yourself is pick a favorite day and mark your calendar for the remaining home games that fall on it. Our vote is Friday—because who doesn't love free swag?

And this Friday in particular (July 15) is going to be extra cool because the giveaway item is a bobblehead of local news icon Sue Straughn.

DAILY PROMOTIONS

Fat Tuesdays Fans can buy a ticket for the

Winn-Dixie Party Deck, which includes a Blue Wahoos hat and a 90-minute buffet dinner featuring unlimited Pepsi products for just $27.

July 14, 2022

•July 19 John Hart & the Prince Brothers •July 26 Hi Tide Band •Aug. 2 Wester •Aug. 9 Tyler Mac •Aug. 16 Sandy Roots •Aug. 23 Vinyl Revival •Aug. 30 Class X •Sept. 6 Jordan Chase •Sept. 13 Mr. Big & the Rhythm Sisters •Sept. 20 Stormfolk

One-Price Wednesdays All box, reserved and standing room tickets will be the same price ($18) and include a hot dog, chips and a drink.

Mullet Thursdays The "business on the field,

party in the stands" attitude returns to the ballpark with drink specials every Thursday.

Giveaway Fridays The Wahoos will once again

offer exclusive giveaway items to fans each Friday throughout the season.

Fireworks Saturdays Win or lose, the Wahoos celebrate every Saturday night with post-game fireworks.

•Sept. 27 Karli Ryan •Oct. 4 Southern Breeze •Oct. 11 String Farm •Oct. 18 Dr. Breeze •Oct. 25 Modern Eldorados

TRUE BLUES

BANDS ON THE BEACH

WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, through Oct. 25 WHERE: Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach, 20 Casino Beach Boardwalk COST: Free DETAILS: visitpensacolabeach.com

Outdoor music isn't just a beach thing here in Pensacola. Thanks to the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department and Blues Angel Music, you can enjoy live music on select Sundays on the mainland, too, at the Blues on the Bay series.

The view alone—from the amphitheater around back at the Community Maritime Park—makes these concerts worth checking out.

Blues on the Bay Remaining 2022 Schedule •July 24 Goldmine •Aug. 7 Reunion Band •Aug. 21 Modern Eldorados

GAME ON

BLUES ON THE BAY

WHEN: 6 p.m. Select Sundays WHERE: Hunter Amphitheater at the Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. COST: Free DETAILS: facebook.com/ bluesonthebaypensacola

Military Family Sundays Active duty and

retired military members receive a discount at the box office each Sunday, and families with kids can take the field, run the bases and play catch in the outfield after the game.

Blue Wahoos Remaining 2022 Giveaway Schedule

•July 15 Sue Straughn Bobblehead •July 29 Beach Towel •Aug. 12 Backpack •Aug. 26 Derrick Brooks Bobblehead •Sept. 16 Watson & Watson Bobblehead

BLUE WAHOOS HOME GAMES

WHEN: 6:35 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 6:05 p.m. Saturdays; 4:05 p.m. Sundays WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. COST: Tickets start at $12 DETAILS: bluewahoos.com

*All giveaways, promotions and event dates are subject to change 13

▶rules Just like we have every summer for the last 22 years, we're asking all of you to play favorites and vote in our Best of the Coast poll.

That means all of your most important opinions—like who really makes the best lattes in town—are finally going to be heard.

And don't worry if you can't get through the full ballot in one try. Voting is open through July 21, so you can take it one section at a time. You can also vote online if that's more your style at inweekly.net. {in}

•No photocopies or faxes will be accepted.

•Vote in at least 15 categories. Ballots with fewer than 15 categories completed will not be counted.

•Ballots must be postmarked by July 21, 2022.

▶mail your ballot to

Best of the Coast c/o Inweekly, PO Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591

▶required info Name

Or vote online at inweekly.net now -July 21

Email

community, media & culture

services

health & wellness

Best Nonprofit

Best Gym Best Personal Trainer Best Boutique Fitness Studio Best Yoga Best Yoga Instructor Best Pilates Best Fitness Classes Best Fitness Instructor Best Bootcamp Best Weight Loss Program Best Running Club Best 5K Best Place to Walk/Run Best Place to Ride Your Bike Best Hospital Best General Care Physician Best Chiropractor Best Dentist Best Orthodontist Best Endodontist Best Pediatrician Best Mental Health Professional Best OB/GYN Best Optometrist Best Dermatologist Best Plastic Surgery Best Physical Therapy Best Pharmacy Best Walk-In Clinic

Best Music Venue Best Band Best Concert/Concert Series Best Theatre Production

Best Hair Salon Best Hair Stylist Best Hair Colorist Best Barber Shop Best Men's Hair Stylist Best Day Spa Best Massage Best Massage Therapist Best Pedicure Best Manicure Best Hair Removal Best Facial Best Esthetician Best Skin Care Overall Best Bank Best Credit Union Best Financial Advisor Best Accounting Firm Best Residential Real Estate Agency Best Commercial Real Estate Agency Best Real Estate Agent Best Boutique Hotel/Inn Best Hotel–Pensacola Beach Best Hotel–Pensacola Best Apartment Complex Best Architecture Firm Best Law Firm Best Attorney Best Insurance Agency Best Vet Best Dog Groomer Best Doggie Day Care/Boarding Best Dog Training Best Construction Company Best AC Company Best Landscaping Best Interior Designer Best Framery Best Tattoo & Piercing Studio Best Tattoo Artist Best Special Event Space Best Caterer Best Florist Best Portrait/Family Photography Best Car Wash/Detailer Best Oil Change Best Auto Service Shop Best Window Tinting Best Green Business

Best Comedian

Best New Business

Best Comic Book Store

Best Charity Event Best Place to Work Best Boss Best Community Leader Best Rising Leader Best Politician Best Advocacy/Activist Group Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests Best Day Trip Best Annual Event Best Food Event Best Parade Best Regular/Reoccurring Event Best Free Thing To Do Best Neighborhood Best Pensacola Landmark Best Public Park Best Pet-Friendly Park Best Playground Best Palafox Market Vendor Best Makers/Craft Market Best Reason to Attend a Blue Wahoos Game Best Reason to Attend an Ice Flyers Game Best Youth Sports/Rec Program Best Dance Studio Best After-School Activity Best Summer Camp Best Place for a Birthday Party Best Local Celebrity Best TV Station Best Radio Station Best Radio Personality Best Morning Radio Show Best Podcast Best Website/Blog Best Scandal Best Person or Business to Follow on Instagram Best Business to "Like" on Facebook Best Way To Get Cultured Best Art Gallery/Museum Best Artist Best Photographer

414 1

retail Best Car Dealership Best Bicycle Shop Best Boutique Best Men's Apparel Best Women's Apparel Best Children's Apparel & Gifts Best Accessories Best Consignment Store Best Thrift Store Best Athletic/Outdoor Store Best Furniture Store Best Home Décor & Accessories Best Antiques Best Vintage Shop/Seller Best Maker/Artisan Best Gift Shop Best Place to Buy Greeting Cards/Stationery Best Place to Buy a Book inweekly.net

Best New Store

Best Chinese Cuisine

Best French Fries

Best Jeweler

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Best Fried Chicken

Best Surf/Skate Shop

Best Thai Cuisine

Best Wings

Best Nursery/Plants

Best Indian Cuisine

Best Oysters

Best Hardware Store

Best Vietnamese Cuisine

Best Salads

Best Computer/Tech Store

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Cuisine

Best Place to Buy Local Produce

Best Music Gear/Instruments

Best Sushi

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Dish

Best Record Store

Best Gluten Free Options

Best Desserts

Best Liquor Store

Best Seafood

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt

Best Wine Shop

Best Steakhouse

Best Cakes/Cupcakes

Best Wine Tastings

Best BBQ

Best Cookies

Best Grocery Store

Best Soul Food

Best King Cake

Best International Food Market

Best Wine Menu

Best Original Menu Item

Best Gourmet/Specialty Food Shop

Best Original Menu

Best Lunch Specials

Best Chef

Best Weekly Special

weddings

Best Up-and-Coming Chef

Best Cooking Classes

Best Place to Propose

Best Wait Staff

Best Mobile Beverage Service

Best Place to Buy an Engagement Ring

Best Waiter

Best Local Food Manufacturer

Best Ceremony Venue

Best Waitress

Best Local Beverage Manufacturer

Best Reception Venue

Best Coffee Shop

Best Officiant

Best Barista

bars, drinks & nightlife

Best Bridal Store

Best Outdoor Dining

Best Bar Overall

Best Place to Rent a Tux

Best Place to Splurge

Best Night Club

Best Bridal Make-up Artist

Best Place to Eat Healthy

Best Bar–Downtown

Best Wedding Hair Salon

Best Place to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Best Bar–Cordova Area

Best Wedding Hair Stylist

Best Romantic Dining

Best Bar–North Pensacola/Nine Mile Road

Best Wedding Planner/Coordinator

Best Place for a First Date

Best Bar–West Pensacola/Perdido Key

Best Wedding Photography

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Best Bar–Pensacola Beach

Best Photobooth

Best Pet-Friendly Restaurant

Best Bar–Milton/Pace

Best Wedding Videography

Best Salad Bar

Best Wedding Band

Best Take Out/To Go

Best Wedding DJ

Best Food Delivery

Best Wedding Caterer

Best Restaurant for a Birthday Dinner

Best Wedding Cake

Best Restaurant for Sports Fans

Best Wedding Florist

Best Late Night Eats

Best Wedding Rentals

Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Town Guests

Best Wedding Party Transportation

Best Gone-But-Not-Forgotten Restaurant

Best Daiquiris/Frozen Drinks

Best Place to Buy Bridesmaid Gifts

food

Best Bloody Mary

Best Place for a Rehearsal Dinner

*List the specific menu item if applicable

Best Place for Out-of-Town Guests to Stay

Best Uniquely Pensacola Dish

Best Place to Buy a Wedding Gift

Best Cup of Coffee

restaurants

Best Iced Coffee

Best Restaurant Overall

Best Latte

Best Restaurant–Downtown

Best Iced Tea

Best Restaurant–Cordova Area

Best Juices/Smoothies

Best Restaurant–East Hill

Best Pizza

Best Restaurant–North Pensacola/

Best Steak

Nine Mile Road

Best Burrito

Best Restaurant–West Pensacola/Perdido Key

Best Taco

Best Restaurant–East Pensacola Heights

Best Soup

Best Restaurant–Gulf Breeze

Best Deli

Best Restaurant–Pensacola Beach

Best Bread

Best Restaurant–Milton/Pace

Best Sandwich

Best New Restaurant

Best Chicken Salad

Best Bakery

Best Burger

Best Breakfast

Best Hot Dog

Best Brunch

Best Cheese Plate

Best Lunch

Best Appetizers

Best Food Truck

Best Mac-n-Cheese

Best Greek Cuisine

Best Pastries

Best Mexican Cuisine

Best Breakfast Dish/Menu Item

Best Italian Cuisine

Best Grits

Best Cajun Cuisine

Best Donuts

July 14, 2022

Best New Bar Best Happy Hour Best Drink Specials Best Cover Charge Worth Paying Best Day Drinking Best Drink Menu Best Specialty Cocktails Best Bushwacker Best Mimosa Best Martini Best Selection of Wine Best Margarita Best Signature Drink Best Selection of Beer on Tap Best Selection of Bottled/Canned Beer Best Brewery Best Local Beer Best Bartender Best DJ Best Drag Queen Best Sports Bar Best Sports Team Club Headquarters Best Neighborhood Bar Best Pet-Friendly Bar Best Hotel Bar Best Bar With a View Best Bar Ambiance Best Bar for Games Best Trivia Night Best Karaoke Night Best Bar for Live Music Best Bar Food

Or vote online at inweekly.net {in} 15

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inweekly.net

WEEK OF JULY 14-20

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

A Summer in the Studio

By Elizabeth Royappa

Piece by Marzia Ransom / Photo Courtesy of TAG

Four years ago, the University of West Florida's current artist-in-residence Marzia Ransom "fell madly in love" during a trip to Paris.

"You know, I've lectured about these magnificent works of art for art history classes several times," she said, reflecting on her first visit to the Sainte-Chapelle ("Holy Chapel").

"But then I stepped foot in the space, and I understood that everything I lectured before was bullshit," the artist said.

"I couldn't explain to the students that the light that physically touches you in the SainteChapelle will give you a headache, will hurt you, will manipulate your being into believing that you can float into thin air and touch God," she continued. "It is like someone punching you in the solar plexus and yet feeding you gold flakes through your nose at the same time. You are absolutely elevated; you don't even need to breathe. How can you explain that in photographs? You cannot."

Now, in an effort to bring a taste of this experience back to people in her hometown, Ransom has transformed UWF's normally static gallery space into a modernized renaissance workshop.

She sat down with Inweekly in the gallery, which is simply called The Art Gallery or TAG around campus, to talk about the paintings she's creating during her time as artist-in-residence.

"I wanted to complete one specific body of work that I'd started in 2018, and then I was comJuly 14, 2022

missioned another one, and I thought, 'I need the space,'" Ransom said. "I didn't want to put my family through a disarrayed house, and I thought, the residency will be a great opportunity."

The artist is involving the community in her creative process by inviting observers into TAG during designated workshop hours, employing a team of UWF student assistants and holding opening and closing receptions later this summer.

Ransom's current work is inspired not only by her trips abroad but also by the academic research she is doing on religious iconography and the Virgin Mary in particular. The path to this research focus wasn't painless, though.

When her plans to do Ph.D. work on the Sainte-Chapelle fell through back in 2019, the artist recalls feeling "a little depressed." But it was while searching for alternatives, she said, that her passion for religious relics and symbols began to grow.

"One of the things I was thinking about was the fact that the Virgin Mary doesn't have many relics to talk about because she was raptured … and so this concept started working its way in, this idea of status in between human and deity," Ransom said, describing the exhibit's central painting. "This pulling-up rather than rapture found its way into the mix, and the 'Assumption of the Virgin' came to be. So in it, she's pulled up to heaven with ropes."

The artist added, "I wanted to celebrate her as a woman. I've been researching the Virgin as a woman, as a mother, as a saint. It is beautiful. That research took over my life."

Ultimately, the Assumption will be one panel in a double-sided triptych.

"I already know how this is going to play out and how beautiful it's going to be," she said. "One side is going to be dark, and the other side is going to be light."

The dark side she's referring to is the "Dormition of the Virgin," a painting in progress on the back of the same canvas, in which Mary expires surrounded by apostles. The two panels flanking the Assumption/ Dormition will depict angels interacting with the Virgin.

Eventually, the finished triptych will be "standing freely on a foot that's like a lazy Susan so you can turn it around and really look at this piece three-dimensionally," she added.

If this all sounds dauntingly large, that's because it is. But Ransom is no stranger to largescale works. The 34-foot frieze she created during her previous 2018 residency currently hangs in the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CASSH) Dean's office. She was also the driving creative force behind UWF's Black Lives Matter mural.

These projects have made her an expert collaborator. Ransom worked with UWF students to create both the frieze and the mural, and she said the ideas brought in by this summer's core group of students "keep her young and authentic, mentally speaking."

"When you have students coming in saying, 'Hey, I found this artist and I'm thinking of trying this new technique on how to mix the paint,' I love it," she shared.

For the art students who secured a spot in Ransom's residency studio, the experience is considered an internship. Depending on their individual skills, team members are mixing paints, drawing, doing historical research, building structures for the exhibition and more.

When she's not painting, Ransom works as a CASSH academic advisor, so the success and growth of UWF students is important to her.

"We're running this studio like a renaissance bottega, a workshop for future artists," she explained. "You would go to a bottega at the age of 5, and you would do one thing until you were ready for the following thing. So you started by making pigments, and then you moved up to applying these onto the surface, then doing the drawings."

There are no children working in her TAG bottega, but Ransom is still carrying on the renaissance tradition by ensuring that each team member masters a variety of creative skills.

In addition to giving young artists valuable experience, Ransom has also involved family members in the project. Her son is a UWF student and a member of the studio, and he, Ransom's partner and her two young daughters have all acted as models and been painted into multiple parts of the collection.

Ransom's residency will culminate in an exhibition that will open Thursday, Aug. 4. The final exhibition will be composed of the "Assumption/ Dormition" portion of the triptych, the commission piece, several drawings and a faux stained glass window.

That commissioned painting is for the church of Ransom's close friend, and in it, the Virgin Mary is surrounded by friends and holding baby Jesus.

"This piece is going to reside in a conference room, and I thought, since they will be talking, I'm going to create a 'Sacred Conversation," she shared, referring to the title of the work. "So the Virgin, in this case, is the one bringing in the viewer and engaging in a direct gaze. In my research, I found that usually the Madonna is very demure and only engaging with the baby, and I wanted to bring her out more."

Ransom and her team are also working to cover one of the gallery windows with clear sheets of decorated acrylic, creating a SainteChapelle-inspired stained-glass effect.

"We're going to work on depictions of the four archangels, but it's going to be pushing the boundaries of what stained glass would have been," she explained. "So this weird blue hair, tattoos, piercings … it's going to be fun."

"I don't want to rush the magic," she added, pointing out several unfinished drawings that will eventually become the wings of the triptych.

These will be on display during the exhibition, inviting viewers to see her creative process while it's still ongoing. {in} Ransom plans to hold two more public workshops on July 15 and 22. For more information on upcoming residency events, visit facebook. com/tag82uwf.

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a&e happenings BEACH SEASON UPDATES

FREE TROLLEY RIDES TO PENSACOLA BEACH The 2022 Pensacola Beach Island Trolley,

operated by Escambia County Area Transit, will run daily from 4 p.m.-midnight through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 5.

Three trolleys will operate concurrently, running three routes. The eastern route runs from Casino Beach to Portofino, the western route runs from Casino Beach to Park West near the entrance gate to Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the commercial core route runs from Casino Beach to Grand Marlin with stops occurring along the new access road and at Pensacola Beach Boardwalk.

Visitors can access the real-time trolley schedule four ways: •Visit the "Trolley Tracker" at visitpensacolabeach.com/trolleytracker •Call (850) 602-9384 and enter the trolley stop number •Text SRIA (space) and the trolley stop number to 41411 •Scan the QR code posted at each trolley stop with a smartphone

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTIONS Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave., from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, July 16, and Everett Animal Welfare Group will be at PetSmart, on North Davis Highway, noon-4 p.m.

If you can't adopt, you can talk about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up to date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip.

ANIMAL ALLIES BINGO Animal Allies Florida is hosting Bingo at Scenic Hills Country Club, located at 8891 Burning Tree Road, twice a month.

Dates are July 26, Aug. 9 & 23, Sept. 6 & 20, Oct. 4 & 18, Nov. 8 & 22 and Dec. 6 & 20. Proceeds go to help local animals. The fun starts at 7 p.m. $10 gets you 30 cards. Winners share the pot. Food and drink will be available for purchase. You must be 18 years old to play.

FIRST DANCE BALLROOM PRESENTS SECOND ANNUAL GREATEST SHOWCASE BENEFITING COUNCIL ON AGING The Sec-

ond Annual Fundraiser benefiting Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc. is at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 30, at Pensacola Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox.

Featuring Pensacola public figures. Tickets are $33-$58. Visit pensacolasaenger.com to purchase.

ARTS & CULTURE

EASY GOING GALLERY SMOKENCHAT'S OPEN MIC Enjoy music, poetry, good vibes and

more 7-11 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, at Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. $10 entry, $5 BYOB. Visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery for details.

MOTORIN' CAR SHOW AT GALLERY NIGHT On Friday, July 15, from 5-9 p.m., Gal-

lery Night takes over downtown Pensacola. This month's theme is "Motorin' Car Show!" Dozens of local and visiting cars will be on display along Government Street and surrounding Plaza Ferdinand. Bring the family to check out this display of art on wheels. Don't miss a performance from 818 1

the Thee Auricles. Gallery Night's July Featured Artist is Devin Bonner. Devin is a multidisciplinary artist native to Pensacola, where he grew up in a family of race car and motorcycle builders and developed a skill and passion for the automotive lifestyle. Visit gallerynightpensacola.org for more information.

SAENGER BRINGS SUMMER MOVIES SERIES BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN The Grand

Dame of Palafox will once again open her doors to the community with a selection of seven films this summer. Tickets for the Saenger Classic Movie Series will go on sale to the public on Friday, July 8, at 10 a.m. at the Saenger Theatre Box Office, located at 22 E. Intendencia, or on the night of each movie beginning at 6 p.m. Prices for admission remain at $5 per person for general admission seating. Tickets are only available for purchase at the Saenger Theatre Box Office. The next date is July 16 for a showing of "Titanic."

FLORIDA'S TERRITORIAL BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION CLOSING EVENT The public

is invited to join in the closing event for Florida's Bicentennial Celebration on Sunday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. in Museum Plaza, located behind the Pensacola Museum of History. The Commission will have a final celebration, closing out of the commemoration. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets down to Museum Plaza for an evening of fun including a performance from The Reunion Band. Visit historicpensacola.org for more information.

THE REVOLUTIONISTS PenArts presents

"The Revolutionists," a comedy, revolutionary dream fugue and true story from playwright Lauren Gunderson. Dates are 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 24, at PenArts at The Gordon, 306 N. DeVilliers St. Get your tickets at penarts.org.

WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART PCA is located at the Studer Com-

munity Institute, 220 W. Garden St. "Downton Abbey: A New Era" will be showing at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23. Classic films are available for free through the PCA website.

Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information and the latest showtimes.

MOVIES IN THE PARK The next movie in the

park is "Space Jam: A New Legacy" Friday, July 22.

Movies are free and open to the public. Preshow activities begin at 6 p.m., and shows will begin at sunset. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to spread out on the lawn to watch a family-friendly movie underneath the stars. Concessions from local food truck vendors will be available for purchase, and outside food is also welcome. Pets and glass bottles are prohibited at the event. Visit playpensacola.com for details.

THE GLORIOUS GALA OF GAGA & MONSTER BALL DRAG SHOW Enjoy a night of mu-

sic and glamour inspired by Lady Gaga and hosted by drag royalty Monica Heart. The event begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 22. Listen to Lady Gaga hits, take professional photos and bring your dollars for a Lady Gaga-themed drag show. Free admission,

but a $5 cash surcharge for attendees under 21.

Visit vinylmusichall.com for more information.

PENSACOLA OPERA HONORS JERRY SHANNON Pensacola Opera cordially invites

you to Passing the Baton, an evening of dual celebration, honoring Maestro Jerome Shannon as he steps into "retirement" and the official kick-off to the 40th Anniversary Season. The evening will include videos and special performances by some of the maestro's favorite opera stars, announcement of the 40th Anniversary Campaign and new leadership team, and much more. The event is 6 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at Pensacola Country Club, 1500 Bayshore Drive. Tickets are $150. Purchase your tickets at pensacolaopera.org.

PIECES ADRIFT BEACH CLEANUP For any

artists looking for materials for their "Pieces Adrift" artworks, join the beach clean up Saturday, July 30, from 8-10 a.m., at Mom's Beach (Quietwater Beach) located at 241-245 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Visit keeppensacolabeautiful. org for information.

LIFE DRAWING GROUP AT ARTEL Artel's life

drawing group meets every Monday, except holidays, from 6-9 p.m. in Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox.

For more information, contact Melvin at (850) 549-8783 or visit artelgallery.org.

JACQUELINE SULLIVAN PAINTING WORKSHOP Jacqueline Sullivan will be teaching in

Pensacola July 18-22 for Palette Productions Pensacola. This class is about painting abstractly with acrylics and using acrylic mediums and will emphasize taking shapes and elements out as well as adding new ones, always looking for a balance of simplicity and complexity. There is a small fee for supplies, so you will not have to invest in a lot of materials for the class. Join the class by registering at paletteproductions.net. For questions, call Pat Page at (850) 293-5414 or Diane Goeller at (850) 384-3652.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy shopping

for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Market Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 1401 W. Intendencia St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaartsmarket.

EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.

THE MAROON MARINES: ARCHAEOLOGY AT PROSPECT BLUFF A new temporary exhibit

at The Destination Archaeology Resource Center, located at 207 E. Main St., features the story of the largest free black settlement in what is now the United States. This exhibit is sponsored by City of Pensacola Councilmember Teniadé Broughton.

During the War of 1812, a fort was built by Black British Colonial Marines and Indigenous people along the Apalachicola River. Called

"Negro Fort" by American officials, it eventually became the center of the largest free Black settlement in what is now the United States. When the war ended, the U.S. believed the fort threatened the institution of slavery and must be destroyed.

To the Maroon people who lived there, however, the fort at Prospect Bluff was a beacon of freedom worth fighting for.

For more information, visit fpan.us.

HARMONY DISCORD Harmony Discord is the latest art exhibit at First City Art Center's Gallery 1060, located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. The exhibit is on view through July 30. Visit firstcityartcenter.org for more information.

EXHIBITS AT ARTEL Currently showing at Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, is local artist Davmo, jewelry made by Christine Rojas and paintings from Mary Jo Rakowski. All exhibits will be shown through Aug. 12. Visit artelgallery.org for details.

GOODS OF DESIRES PMA's exhibition Goods of Desires from artist Cindy Leung is on view through Sept. 4. The exhibit uses Chinese exports to address the complex relationship between consumerism, colonization and cultural hybridity, as they originated in the East and were popularized in the West through trading and British colonization. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

TAKING A LINE FOR A WALK This new exhi-

bition at Pensacola Museum of Art highlights the diverse materials, techniques and subject matter artists have explored through drawing and printmaking over the last century. Artworks include selections from the PMA's permanent collection, works on loan from The Art Gallery at the University of West Florida and works borrowed from contemporary American artists. Featured in the show are pieces by Pablo Picasso, Käthe Kollwitz, Salvador Dali, Alexander Calder, Alex Katz, Sage Lewis and Richard Lindner. The exhibit is on view through Sept. 4 at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.

AMERICA'S EVERGLADES: THROUGH THE LENS OF CLYDE BUTCHER With his

century-old camera, Clyde Butcher has been exploring and documenting the Everglades for more than three decades. The result is a collection of large-format black-and-white photographs that capture untouched parts of the nation's largest subtropical wilderness. The exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St., through Sept. 18. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.

TEXTILES OF THE TIMES: REGENCY ERA DRESS MAKING The period between 1811-1820

is historically defined as the Regency Period. For the Gulf Coast, and Pensacola specifically, the Regency Period was a tumultuous time. It corresponded with the final days of Spanish rule in Florida, and the preparation of becoming an American territory was already underway. Thus, a mixing of cultures happened simultaneously with newer social and cultural trends. This exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History looks at a day in the life of a Regency-era Pensacolian through fashion and garment use. Drawing on historical documentation of stores known to have operated inweekly.net

July 14, 2022

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a&e happenings on Palafox, inside this recreation of a seamstress shop visitors will be able to explore the dress of yesteryear. On view now. Visit historicpensacola. org for details.

GREETINGS FROM PENSACOLA Postcards were one of the ultimate promoters of person, place and thing during the first half of the 20th century. Journey through the development of the postcard and Pensacola's postcard past while becoming acquainted with Curt Teich, the world's most successful postcard publisher. On view through Sept. 2022 at Pensacola Museum of History. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY This exhibit looks

at the transition of Florida from a Spanish territory to an American region, which formally occurred in 1821. Florida's embattled history dates back much farther than 1821. From refusing independence during the American Revolution to wanting their own freedom in 1810, Florida loved to cause problems. The United States eyed the region early on, using the Seminole Wars as an excuse to seize territory before turning to diplomatic means to acquire Florida. The Adams-Onis Treaty, debated and initially agreed upon in 1819, resulted in Spain ceding control of East Florida to the United States. At the same time, Spain also agreed to give up all claims on West Florida, in essence giving the entire Florida territory over to the United States.

Ratified in 1821, the treaty was cause for celebration in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida, as it officially became part of America. On view at Pensacola Museum of History through Dec. 23.

Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

CAPTURING SHADOWS: EXPLORING THE MAGIC OF CAMERAS This exhibit looks at a

brief history of the technology behind photography, from the camera obscura used during the Renaissance to modern digital cameras. In this interactive space, visitors will be able to experience capturing the magic of light through different means. The gallery also displays a wide array of camera technology from the UWF Historic Trust collection, including rare images from our archives. On view through Dec. 2022.

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio 400's and

Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit. Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night. Fascinated by the play selection process? Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs. Visit facebook. com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.

OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off your talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information.

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FOOD + DRINKS

VIVE LA FRANCE Celebrate Bastille Day with

Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox, on 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14. Cost is $75 per person and includes four wines and five courses. Seating is limited, so make your reservations by calling (850) 469-9898.

SIP & SHOP MARKET Visit Perfect Plain Brew-

ing Co., 50 E. Garden St., Sunday, July 17, for their first Sip & Shop event with local artisans. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for a vendor list.

ARC GATEWAY’S CRAB CAKE COOK-OFF

Restaurants and chefs from across the Gulf Coast compete for the best crab cake bragging rights, and guests are given the chance to sample crab cakes, desserts, and wine and beer while surveying an extraordinary silent auction and art made

by Arc Gateway clients 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $75-$150. Purchase yours at crabcakecookoff.funraise.org.

COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: GLORIUS SUMMER SAMPLINGS The next cooking demonstration uses the farm-to-table approach.

Classes are 5 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 20. Classes are $55 per person. Reservations are required. Contact Jessica Ryberg, jessica@ goodgrits.com or (850) 686-3149. Jackson’s is located at 400 S. Palafox. Get your tickets at jacksonsrestaurant.com.

CELEBRATE SUMMER: A WINE PAIRING DINNER Join Bodacious for a wonderful

wine dinner celebrating the essence of summer Wednesday, July 20, at 6:30 p.m. located at 407-D S. Palafox. Tickets are $95. Reserve yours at bodaciousshops.com.

CHARCUTERIE NIGHT AT BODACIOUS

Learn to put together the best charcuterie board with Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox, on Thursday, July 21, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $65. Purchase yours at bodaciousshops.com.

RIBS & REDS Join Seville Quarter for a com-

plimentary wine tasting with Aspect Fine Wine's Max Rowe who has chosen six wines that go with loin ribs. All wines tasted will be on sale in Seville Quarter's Wine Shop. Enjoy Chef Jason's Rib Plate with Fries for $10. Event is 5-7 p.m. Friday, July 22.

Visit sevillequater.com for more information.

FINE WINE FRIDAY Visit The Nest General Store at 11 S. Palafox, Ste. C, on the first Friday of every month for a wine tasting from 6-8 p.m. It's $35 a person and includes charcuterie and the opportunity to try their monthly wine club offerings in house. Visit thenestgeneralstore.com/events for more information.

MONTHLY WINE TASTING IN AGAPI GARDEN Visit Agapi Garden, at 555 Scenic

Highway, from 5-7 p.m., to sample five wines for $10. For more information, call (850) 813-5683.

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Your Personal Injury Lawyers In Pensacola, Florida Since 1955 850-432-1111 | LevinLaw.com | Google Us July 14, 2022

21

free will astrology WEEK OF JULY 14 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): With a fanciful

flourish, Aries poet Seamus Heaney wrote, "I ate the day / Deliberately, that its tang / Might quicken me all into verb, pure verb." I'd love for you to be a pure verb for a while, Aries. Doing so would put you in robust rapport with astrological rhythms.

As a pure verb, you'll never be static. Flowing and transformation will be your specialties. A steady stream of fresh inspiration and new meanings will come your way. You already have an abundance of raw potential for living like a verb—more than all the other signs of the zodiac. And in the coming weeks, your aptitude for that fluidic state will be even stronger than usual.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): According

to Arthurian myth, the Holy Grail is a cup that confers magical powers. Among them are eternal youth, miraculous healing, the restoration of hope, the resurrection of the dead, and an unending supply of healthy and delicious food and drink. Did the Grail ever exist as a material object?

Some believe so. After 34 years of research, historian David Adkins thinks he's close to finding it.

He says it's buried beneath an old house in Burton-on-Trent, a town in central England. I propose we make this tantalizing prospect your metaphor of power during the coming weeks. Why? I suspect there's a chance you will discover a treasure or precious source of vitality. It may be partially hidden in plain sight or barely disguised in a mundane setting.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): I'm pleased to authorize you to be extra vast and extensive in the coming weeks. Like Gemini poet Walt Whitman, you should never apologize and always be proud of the fact that you contain multitudes. Your multivalent, wide-ranging outlook will be an asset, not a liability. We should all thank you for being a grand compendium of different selves. Your versatility and elasticity will enhance the well-being of all of us whose lives you touch.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Your memory is SUBSTANTIAL. Your sensitivity is MONUMENTAL. Your urge to nurture is DEEP. Your complexity is EPIC. Your feelings are BOTTOMLESS. Your imagination is PRODIGIOUS. Because of all these aptitudes and capacities, you are TOO MUCH for

By Rob Brezsny

some people. Not everyone can handle your intricate and sometimes puzzling BEAUTY. But there are enough folks out there who do appreciate and thrive on your gifts. In the coming weeks and months, make it your quest to focus your urge to merge on them.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I love these lines by

Leo poet Conrad Aiken—"Remember (when time comes) how chaos died to shape the shining leaf." I hope this lyrical thought will help you understand the transformation you're going through. The time has come for some of your chaos to expire—and in doing so, generate your personal equivalent of shining leaves. Can you imagine what the process would look and feel like? How might it unfold? Your homework is to ponder these wonders.

The good news is that you now have more personal power than usual to recover from your old traumas and diminish your scars.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): A British wom-

an named Andie Holman calls herself the Scar Queen. She says, "Tight scar tissue creates pain, impacts mobility, affects your posture, and usually looks bad." Her specialty is to diminish the limiting effects of scars, restoring flexibility and decreasing aches. Of course, she works with actual physical wounds, not the psychological kind. I wish I could refer you to healers who would help you with the latter, Virgo. Do you know any? If not, seek one out. The good news is that you now have more personal power than usual to recover from your old traumas and diminish your scars.

I urge you to make such work a priority in the coming weeks.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Ancient Roman

philosopher Seneca wrote, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." But a Spanish proverb suggests a different element may be necessary: "Good luck comes by elbowing." (Elbowing refers to the gesture you use as you push your way through a crowd, nudging people away from the path you want to take.) A Dan-

ish proverb says that preparation and elbowing aren't enough: "Luck will carry someone across the brook if they are not too lazy to leap." Modern author Wendy Walker has the last word: "Fortune adores audacity." I hope I've inspired you to be alert to the possibility that extra luck is now available to you. And I hope I've convinced you to be audacious, energetic, well-prepared, and willing to engage in elbowing. Take maximum advantage of this opportunity.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Many Scor-

pios imagine sex to be a magnificent devotion, a quintessential mode of worship, an unparalleled celebration of sacred earthiness. I endorse and admire this perspective. If our culture had more of it, the art and entertainment industries would offer far less of the demeaning, superficial versions of sexuality that are so rampant. Here's another thing I love about Scorpios: So many of you grasp the value of sublimating lust into other fun and constructive accomplishments. You're skilled at channeling your high-powered libido into practical actions that may have no apparent erotic element. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to do a lot of that.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): A Sagittarius reader named Jenny-Sue asked, "What are actions I could take to make my life more magical?" I'm glad she asked. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to raise your delight and enchantment levels, to bask in the blessed glories of alluring mysteries and uncanny synchronicities. Here are a few tips—1. Learn the moon's phases and keep track of them. 2. Acquire a new sacred treasure and keep it under your pillow or in your bed. 3. Before sleep, ask your deep mind to provide you with dreams that help generate creative answers to a specific question. 4. Go on walks at night or at dawn. 5. Compose a wild or funny prayer and shout it aloud it as you run through a field. 6. Sing a soulful song to yourself as you gaze into a mirror.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Be-

ing able to receive love doesn't come easy for some Capricorns. You may also not be adept at making yourself fully available for gifts and blessings. But you can learn these things. You can practice. With enough mindful attention,

you might eventually become skilled at the art of getting a lot of what you need and knowing what to do with it. And I believe the coming weeks will be a marvelous time to increase your mastery.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "If I don't

practice one day, I know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it." This quote is variously attributed to violinist Jascha Heifetz, trumpeter Louis Armstrong, and violinist Isaac Stern. It's a fundamental principle for everyone who wants to get skilled at any task, not just for musicians. To become a master of what you love to do, you must work on it with extreme regularity. This is always true, of course. But according to my astrological analysis, it will be even more intensely true and desirable for you during the coming months. Life is inviting you to raise your expertise to a higher level. I hope you'll respond!

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): In May 2021,

Jessica and Ben Laws got married on their dairy farm. The ceremony unfolded smoothly, but an unforeseen event interrupted the reception party. A friend who had been monitoring their herd came to tell the happy couple that their pregnant cow had gone into labor and was experiencing difficulties. Jessica ran to the barn and plunged into active assistance, still clad in her lovely floorlength bridal gown and silver tiara. The dress got muddy and trashed, but the birth was successful. The new bride had no regrets. I propose making her your role model for now. Put practicality over idealism. Opt for raw and gritty necessities instead of neat formalities. Serve what's soulful, even if it's messy.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Ask a friend or loved one to tell you a good secret. newsletter.freewillastrology.com. {in}

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news of the weird EWWWWW Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace ... now tourists can add Wet Wipe Island to their lists of must-see attractions in England's capital. The Times of London reported on June 24 that an island the size of two tennis courts and composed entirely of used wet wipes has appeared in the Thames River that meanders through the city. Government ministers have asked people to stop using the wipes and are considering a ban on those that contain plastic. Fleur Anderson, a Labour Party MP, said she has visited the site: "I've ... stood on it—it's near Hammersmith Bridge in the Thames and it's a meter deep or more in places. It's actually changed the course of the Thames." Environmental minister Rebecca Pow asked citizens not to flush the wipes and said a proposal for dealing with the problem would be forthcoming "very shortly."

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A HOBBY Neruno Daisuki, a Japanese illustrator and manga artist, stumbled into a new hobby as he tried to pass the time during the COVID lockdowns of the past year, Oddity Central reported. He started collecting the various little items that become stuck in the tread of one's shoes—pebbles, glass fragments, etc.— and laying them out neatly on boards with grids.

"When I was removing the pebbles caught in the groove on the back of my newly bought sneakers," he said, "I felt that it was a waste to just throw them away, and I thought, 'It would be interesting to collect them.'" He ended up with 179 pebbles, 32 glass fragments and one nut. Now he's considering further categorizing his collection between his left and right shoes.

GOOD SPORT Katie Hannaford, 36, of Essex, England, just wanted to please her daughter by taking part in a parents' race on sports day at the girl's school. But when she tripped over her own feet and fell to her knees, Hannaford inadvertently flashed her bare rear end to the crowd of students, parents and teachers, the Mirror reported on July 7. At first, she said, she was humiliated, but Trophies Plus Medals presented her with a Bottoms Up award trophy and medal; Elle Courtenel, social media manager for the company, said they "felt she deserved her own award despite not making it to the finish line." And Hannaford has come around to see the humor of it: "It's definitely the funniest thing I've ever done in my life!"

LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGE? A family in Uttar Pradesh, India, believe they have been blessed by the gods after the mother, Kareena, gave birth to a baby with four arms and four legs, the New York Post reported. The otherwise healthy boy arrived on July 2 and weighed 6.5 pounds, doctors reported. Some believe he may be the reincarnation of the four-armed Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who rules wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity. The extremely rare condition is called polymelia and results in extra, unusable arms, legs, hands or feet.

FREAK OF NATURE A wild rabbit that looks like something out of a "Star Wars" bar scene is alarm-

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

ing residents of a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, neighborhood, KELO-TV reported. The rabbit's head and face are covered with growths that look like tentacles, which bob around as the animal moves.

Dennis Schorr saw the bunny on July 7: "I walk my dogs every day and I see lots of rabbits—but today was very unusual," he said. Game Fish and Parks biologist Josh Delger said the growths are caused by a form of papillomavirus found only in cottontail rabbits. He said cases this severe are seen every few years, and the virus can spread from wild rabbits to pet rabbits, but it's unlikely it would spread to dogs.

AWWWWW What's a 6-year-old to do when her tooth falls out during an airline flight and gets lost on the plane? After Lena and her family returned to the Greenville-Spartanburg (South Carolina) airport from a trip to Norway on June 17, she realized her tooth was nowhere to be found, WHNSTV reported. The flight crew noticed that Lena was upset as her family tried to go back onto the plane to look for it; instead, United Airlines Capt.

Josh Duchow went the extra mile, writing a note to the Tooth Fairy to make sure Lena got credit for her missing tooth.

BRIGHT IDEA On June 26, when traffic came to a complete standstill on I-85 in Atlanta, many people left their cars to walk around, play Frisbee or—in Hailey Ann Smith's case—strum the harp.

"I was in my concert gown and I had the harp in the car from a wedding ... so I parked myself in the very middle of the interstate and played a few songs for everybody!" she wrote on Facebook, according to The News & Observer. "It's not every day you get to play your baby grand harp on the middle of I-85." "Wow, what a great way to share beautiful music!" one Facebook user responded.

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION Victor Roy, Oceanside, California's elected city treasurer, is in hot water after an email from Treasury Manager Steve Hodges to Roy surfaced, Voice of San Diego reported. The June 6 email includes several allegations against Roy, but the most titillating details, in an anonymous complaint filed in June 2021, allege that Roy looked at pornography on the Mission Branch Library computers. The complaint stated that Roy was "looking at magazines that when he clicked on the cover, the images inside the magazine were full nudity." Roy was told by library staff that he couldn't view nudity on public computers, and he replied that "he knew, that is why he came when it was slow and that he was being cognizant of his surroundings," the complaint continued. Assistant City Manager Michael Gossman, who confirmed that the leaked email was authentic, said Roy had not repeated the inappropriate behavior at the library. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2022 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com July 14, 2022

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